Radhanath Swami speaks on ‘Good and Evil’

39 Good and Evil

“How to nourish our positive side, how to conquer greed with charity, hate with love, anger with forgiveness, apathy with compassion these are essential questions.” – Radhanath Swami

The native American Indians have a way of explaining the internal conflict within all of us. They say that within the hearts or the minds of all of us are two dogs: a good dog and a bad dog. The bad dog is howling for vengeance, for immoral reckless action. And the good dog is calling out for morality, integrity, devotion. There is a battle between the two. The dog that we feed the most is going to be the stronger of the two. And how do we feed that dog? By the choices we make every minute, every day; by the values we hold sacred. Integrity means to feed the good dog, no matter how bad and loud the bad dog barks. This is the principle of every great scripture in the world.

Both good and evil are within all of us. And because they are within all of us, we have created them in the world around us. How to nourish our positive side, how to conquer greed with charity, hate with love, anger with forgiveness, apathy with compassion these are essential questions.

To nourish the positive and to starve the negative is the real advancement of civilization. If we have the determination and if we make the right choices to nourish our divine nature, we will be victorious in life.

– Radhanath Swami

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21 comments

  1. True we should nourish the “Good Dog” i.e. the positives in our lives and starve the “Bad Dog” i.e. the negatives in out lives. If we are able to accomplish that we can perfect our lives.

  2. Integrity means to feed the good dog, no matter how bad and loud the bad dog barks. This is the principle of every great scripture in the world.

  3. I remember having this question from my childhood. If God is all good and all powerful why did he create evil!! To my good fortune; I am getting the answer to it today because of HH Radhanath Swami’s kindness. Could you please more details on this particulr aspect or guide me to some literature where I can get deeper insight? Thanks!

  4. Wonderful article that describes how by making bad choices we are feeding bad dog in our heart! It inspires us to feed the good dog within. Thank you HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj to explain us with beautiful analogy.

  5. Nice analogy of good dog and bad dog. However loud bad dog barks , we must strive to feed the good dog, Thanks to Rdhanth swami for this article.

  6. Thank you Maharaj…
    It is for sure that by reading the articles on this site we are feeding the good dog within us.

  7. The best solution to make each one’s life successful. All glories to HH Radhanatha Swami Maharaja.

  8. Thank you Maharaj for inspiring us to give up our baser desires and attempt to listen to our good dog.

  9. “To nourish the positive and to starve the negative is the real advancement of civilization” — Thanks for sharing such a wisdom in so eloquent way

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